Alternator failure hampered the progress of the Hi-Tec Oils Holden Commodore of West Aussies Mark McNally and Tony Ricciardello in the L&H 500 at Phillip Island in Victoria at the weekend.
McNally brought the #16 Hi-Tec Oils Holden Commodore into the pits for repairs on lap 74, with the crew working feverishly to replace the alternator to get the car back on track to finish the race.
The #16 Hi-Tec Oils Holden Commodore of Mark McNally and Tony Ricciardello at Phillip Island
“It was very unfortunate, we had an alternator fail,” said McNally.
“We ended up dropping maybe 12 laps in the pits while they changed the alternator, if we had have pushed on everything would have gone flat and we would have stopped anyway.
Their efforts paid dividends with the entry being classified in 22nd position to earn 52 vital championship points.
Both drivers were buoyed by the consistency of the Hi-Tec Oils Commodore before the alternator problem, giving them confidence leading into Bathurst next month.
“I think it is really good to get some mileage today in the Hi-Tec Oils Commodore. It is great preparation for Bathurst and I am learning to work with the team, myself and Mark are learning to work together as well. It’s going to take some time but I think we are ready for Bathurst,” said Ricciardello.
Will Davison and Garth Tander won today’s L&H 500 ahead of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes and the pairing of Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards.
“I am looking forward to Bathurst,” said McNally.
“Bathurst, I have so much respect for it. This place can be a bit daunting but we had a reasonable car, but Bathurst is a different kettle of fish all together. You go to Bathurst and the thing is on edge the whole time.”
The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will be held at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit on October 8-11.
2009 V8 Supercar Championship Standings
Championship Points – After Race 17 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 2254
2. Will Davison 2083
3. Garth Tander 1738
4. Craig Lowndes 1725
5. Steven Johnson 1590
6. Mark Winterbottom 1574
7. James Courtney 1370
8. Russell Ingall 1364
9. Rick Kelly 1336
10. Lee Holdsworth 1310
31. Mark McNally 231
54. Tony Ricciardello 75
